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Ontario teacher protest: Union directs how report cards should be filled out

In producing this winter’s report cards, the teachers’ union says “teachers are not required to completely fill the boxes.”

By Kristin RushowyEducation Reporter

Tues., Feb. 5, 2013

In the wake of last fall’s bare-bones report cards, the elementary teachers’ union has sent out a memo explaining what’s expected this time around — including that “personalized feedback does not mean that every student must have a different comment” and that “teachers are not required to completely fill the boxes.”

The Jan. 14 memo lays out in great detail how the winter report should be handled, and stands in contrast to the bare-minimum advice given by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) for the fall progress report.

While this batch of report cards has so far caused few waves, the two-page memo reflects the continuing labour uncertainty in Ontario’s public schools.

Report cards started going home in Peel on Monday, and in Toronto public schools starting Friday.

“What I’m hearing is very different from the first time around,” said principal Simon Storey, chair of the Toronto Supervisory Administrators’ Association.

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“We were kind of wondering where that (memo) would go, and it doesn’t seem to have developed into anything. At this point, we’re not hearing a darn thing about report cards, which is really nice.”

Public boards in Peel and York also say they’ve had no issues with reports, as have several others across the province.

In the fall, the Toronto District School Board estimated roughly one in five teachers followed the bare-bones direction given by the union.

At that time, the ETFO advised its members to write the minimum comment required — as little as one sentence.

Public teacher unions are angry with the province for imposing two-year contracts that denied them bargaining rights and include cuts to sick days, an end to banking out unused sick days at retirement, as well as forcing three unpaid days off and freezing wages.

The ETFO memo explains its report card advice is consistent with provincial guidelines. “Teachers are to use their professional judgment when completing the Elementary Provincial Report Card. Teachers are not expected to comment on every learning skill or strand.”

Sam Hammond, president of the elementary teachers’ union, has said “every single advisory around report cards” is based on the Education ministry’s Growing Success document.

There’s no suggestion teachers must keep comments brief, he said.

In a written response to questions the Education ministry said: “We know that so many of our teachers put an enormous amount of time and effort into all report cards. We value and appreciate that effort and we know it’s helping to get better outcomes for our kids. We have every expectation that teachers will continue to complete report cards.”

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